Hey, lovely readers. I'm here with an update. Be comfortable in your blankets and read slowly.

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When the golden skin tore apart, breaking the junctions of all bones and muscles, it turned the flesh of a human body into the majestic black furs of a werewolf. The only golden now remains in the blazing eyes of the wolf, vigorous claws marking the soil as a habit of labelling the place of his discarded clothes. Van could feel his skills heightening in the core of his vital form, eyes penetrating the bushy branches of trees before catching a streak of two snakes folded upon each other, ears perking up to hear the scraping sounds of some squirrels gnawing on plums.

His nose picked up the fragrance of wet soil, head moved upwards to the reverberating clouds in the vast sky. The possibility of rain provided peace to his burning paws on the ground. 

He looked ahead, it had been a while since he had visited this forest. He remembered the bits and extents of the wars for which he had trained many trainers and soldiers here. He trusted his experience and knowledge of authority to lead his Empire to a status where his people could live peacefully. Their life taught them many things, his human trained him when their instincts could lead them to a very disastrous end. And the end won't be their alone, thousands of people…pups, grown-ups, elders… might have suffered along with them. 

When a mate separates from the bond of fate, the pain of the separation often crosses the boundaries of cruelty and merciful sadness that further guide them to death. 

However when their said mate left them centuries ago, Van felt the numbness of heart for the first time. There wasn't pain but he could feel the emotions of his human, he could feel the loss and superiority of anger in his bones but their heart was numb. He became lost in the decisions of his humans to the level where he either lives or slaughter the enemies.

So, His human chooses his steps for him to save humanity. He didn't let Van experience the loss of their mate to its full extent, even before he could mourn and find the culprits to slaughter, to create a bloodbath, his human steeled their emotions and drove the nerves on a very different path.

The path of survival. 

Wars upon wars. The blurriness of claws and canines is still as fresh as the first dawn of the winter. What Van had gained from the past tragedy of their life was fear of the well-being of his human. He lived for him, survived the lone howls of one hundred and twenty-three blue moons. He hadn't experienced the affection of his mate as closely as his human did. And it might be the reason why the loss of it affected the human more. 

Legends say one can't compare the pain of the other regardless of their entity, species and compassion.

And legends have always proven right. 

His paws thumped on the ground and raced miles till he reached the periphery of the silent lake, tearing apart the breeze with the tip of his snout. The water looked calm but his instincts stretched his run around the lake to observe any threats, preventing the low aspects of any danger. 

His golden eyes blazed in the damped monsoon when his ear perked at the scream coming from miles away. He halted on his hind paws and heightened his power, letting his ear slack back pointedly. He heard another scream, a result of when the wolf hadn't shifted in a long while. 

The painful screams belonged to the Empress of Eclipse; he remained seated on the shore of the lake till the scream turned into howls of a wolf. 

Opposite to the screams, the howl was resonating with happiness. Van turned his head to the lake, withdrawing his attention from the path. He has seen his human’s behaviour with the Empress, despite the gap of generations, he is obliged to remain respectful to his… to his mate. Similar to his human, he would consider his words before using them in front of the omega. 

What is mate? 

The term seemed as intimate as the moonlight around the moon. But when even the moonlight seeks a different origin for his light, what has the moon to consider as his own?

Van has read theories of mates in the legendary path of his life but he hasn't felt that connection, not even when his human explained the heights of compassion and devotion after meeting uhm Hwan. He blamed his naivety at that time, relayed on the period when he would meet with the wolf form of his mate but the moment never came. What came was the disastrous seismic waves which ruined everything. 

Nothing remained, all he remembered was a loss of life that he once had and a loss of his human. Both of them were prepared to sacrifice their lives against the grief of the loss. 

However, the connotation of their duties as the Emperor of the Eclipse ripped them apart from that loss, pulled them back on the path of living for their people. The grief remains along with a long… long-suffering that still shows its presence as the deep scar on his chest. And now centuries later, when he and his human were surviving the responsibilities by counting days and nights for their folks, the Empress appeared during the auspicious day of his convocation as the queen of the Lunar. 

The anger which they had buried for the sake of humanity surged over the entirety of their thoughts. 

Van remained as detached as he was in the past but he watched everything with his now-experienced eyes. He had seen every kind of personality of the humans around him, had dealt with them on war fields and crowdy courtrooms but what he observed differently in the Empress…was his scent. 

As the Royal blood of the Eclipse, Van shares all abilities with his human but what left his thoughts perplexed was his proficiency to pick up the rosemary and pines in the pumping blood of his veins. It wasn't like this in the past. Not even close to the waves of pheromones he feels in the presence of the Empress even when the omega remains shielded away from him. 

It wasn't like this with… with hwan. He knew the scent was honeysuckle just as he knew the scent of other folks. But now, he can hear that scent pulsating in the air from afar. He wondered what he would have done if he hadn't been trained by his human against his instincts and longings. So, he remained detached but this time he was observing everything along with his human. 

Day by day, decision by decision, talk by talk, replies by replies they had judged and reckoned the conversations of the Empress. His thoughts, his intentions, the nature behind his every movement, they have dealt with the suffocation of remorse as well as the anger of betrayal. 

They had made many blunders in between, the most recent when they hurt the Empress by mixing his identity with Hwan. But as the clouds of the misunderstanding pared off, they accepted their improprieties and apologised. 

In all these things, neither he confronted the Empress nor the Omega appeared in front of him. They remained far from each other and maybe it was for the best. But as his human shared his trust on the Empress, he doesn't have any threshold to deny the existence of his mate. 

How different his mate could be? Most probably he would have four legs, one tail, a pair of blue eyes, white or grey furs similar to most of the omegas. What would make him unique? What would make him special that might scream mate? How will he turn into someone special for the omega? 

The answers lay in one word connection. A connection that he hasn't experienced yet, how will that connection be? Would he be able to witness it? Feel it? Or taste it? 

All of these questions which were raising turmoil in his thoughts will find an answer today. He will meet with the destined one. Maybe he could count the differences as his human did with the Empress? Yes, it would be the right thing to do. 

His persona should resemble the role of a teacher while training the omega wolf but his human hadn't given him any instructions for him to choose his persona. Maybe his human wants him to meet the omega with open willingness and open thoughts. 

So he should do just that. His protective pheromones are immersed in the air around the lake, reflecting his ambiance on the territory. The aroma of pines is mixed with the earthy smell of the soil creating a much damp atmosphere around the lake. 

His ears could hear the sharp thumps of four paws on the ground, his piercing gaze captured the white ball gushing from one bush to the other. So, the omega does have white furs. The golden eyes dilated, noticing the next steps of the omega even before the movement of his paws, the movement was fast, exhilarating even.  

The wolf seemed happy sliding on the slippery red leaves, disturbing the calm squirrels and making them run behind him after stuffing half-chewed plums in their puffy cheeks. 

Van put forward his paws and headed off to his route in a different direction, letting the omega enjoy his first run of a while. He noticed the small vibrations throbbing inside his veins, something was churning inside him. What? His whiffs were wild due to the rapid run in the forest but the reason behind his wild heartbeats is still unknown. 

His paws halted to heave a deep breath, long puffs ruffling away some leaves on the way. The unknown churn happened again and Van felt the pain right into their scar pouch. His body shook by the pressure he felt on his chest and then the aroma of pine heightened in the air once again. 

Van could feel the scent closer, he walked forward shaking off the pain and flicking his well-furred tail. His paws continued the run, following the laid-out path by the omega. The closer his paws reduce the distance with the omega, the faster his blood starts to pump in his veins, galloping from his brain to toes in one jump. His scent hiked up as the omega stopped in front of him, his predator eyes caught the movement of his white furry tail before the omega turned around.

Their eyes met, gaze dilating to meet the most awaited sight of their lives. And then the movement happened again, he watched the royal blue shades of orbs filling with golden flakes before shining golden towards him.

Maybe his own were reflecting the blue shades. While all things were happening to the Alpha, he forgot about the ache in his scar pouch, forgot how it's identity dulled, reducing the pain into nothingness. 

The Alpha’s eyes raked around the omega from his snout to his paws. Suddenly fog surged around the omega matching his white furs but didn't quite touch him. 

A red tongue peeked out as the omega wiped the corners of his mouth. The omega stepped towards him, making him appear out of the fogged aura of nature.

Van looked down to greet the destined wolf, his head bowed, uncaring of his own status, experience and dignity. It happened so naturally as if the gesture was doomed to happen, as if his head won't bow down for the omega then for whom? 

The introduction happened similar to the first howl of the wolf for nature, filled with leisure and purity. The omega’s inner voice held two lighter notes in his baritone than his own, matching more to the chirping of sparrows. 

Their eyes changed back to their original colour and the Alpha raised himself to his full height. The omega looked more built and taller than the average omegas of his age, a result of two Alpha genes indeed.

He needs to see if the abilities of the omega are as exceptional as his appearance or not. So, he challenged the omega. And when the omega accepted the invitation of the swim with a high head, he couldn't help the quirky thought of his own.

“Care to follow, Dear Mate.”

Van didn't look back till he reached the shore of the lake, he knew the omega would follow the route behind him and when he stood against the widely spread porch of the lake, the light thumps behind him proved him right. 

“How much do you know about swimming in your wolf form? Should we start from the fundamental rules or mandatory rules?” The Alpha asked his posture straight and impossibly divine to stare at.

Kookie shook off his furs to control the tremors of his pumping blood, why did he feel so energetic suddenly? "My knowledge resides in theories only, I haven't tried any rules but I know swimming is an important aspect of our lives.” 

The Alpha kept looking at him, no…considering his tall height… the Alpha was gazing down at him and it was making him flustered if it was even possible for a wolf. He brushed past the Alpha and stood against the shore of the lake itself, “That's it.”

If the Alpha’s eyes dimmed in disappointment at least he wouldn't be able to see it. 

No. He shouldn't think like that, learning has always been the first instinct of their lives and it's not a shame to accept delinquencies because this is the humble truth in the end. Jungkook had always taught him to trust his instincts and he should just do that. 

However, the Alpha didn't bring up the issue in the air again. Instead, he stood beside him and began the severe conversation, “ I would teach you two different swimming skills for two different aspects, one when you can use the skills outside of a war where the enemies aren't going above our heads with their claws and the other where you can train the others how to glide in the water.” 

 “The basic things which I would like to remind you before we get into the water is how to get to know the temperature of the water without touching it.” The Alpha stepped ahead and soon his shadow reflected on the water. 

The Alpha turned his head and motioned his snout towards the Omega to follow him. Kookie padded beside the Alpha, their reflections in the water staring right back at them. 

“The cold water gives the clearest image when you see your shadow in it while the hot water gives blurry impressions.” 

The omega was listening carefully while watching his two ears twitch in the water image. He looked two inches shorter than the Alpha, their eyes finding each other’s gazes on the water. 

“But during the war, you won't have enough time to capture your shadows in the water, it wouldn't be calm enough. So, at that time you need to observe the air around the water. The cloudier it seems, the hotter it will be.” 

Kookie was understanding the differences very neatly but he didn't get the importance of water’s temperature at all, “But why is detecting the temperature of the water so important?” 

The Alpha faced the lake and his chest not budging from its position, “It's not important for everyone but for you… it's important.” 

It made Kookie turn to the Alpha completely, his head raised a bit as he asked, “I didn't quite understand it. Why?”

“Your core is sensitive to temperatures, is it not?” When the Alpha turned to the omega and tilted his head knowingly, he found the other staring at him rather astonishingly. 

Kookie couldn't trust the instincts that lapped inside him in a stunned manner. As far as he is concerned, he hasn't spoken about it to anyone so when and how the Alpha could predict his weakness with so much assurance? 

“How do you know about it?”

“My human and I have noticed the Empress around all kinds of temperatures and he doesn't do well with cold ones.” 

The omega had to turn away from the Alpha. He had to. Those eyes were intimidating him into a death fall, he heard the words of the Alpha again and again in his mind as if echoing against his skin before rolling into his ears.

His ears dimmed down in shame, not pointy like before. He raised his one paw and flicked away a stone from the path, “I don't know when it started but cold environments make me weak unconsciously.” 

Kookie remembers the frosty nights, the memories still gives him chills all around his paws, those tremors just never went away. His paws are always cold, his snout and even his tail similar to his human’s hands, nose and feet. 

The Alpha noticed the fragile demeanour of the omega, he kept his position steady but decided to choose his words wisely, “You are born with this condition so it's nothing to be ashamed about. Your Alpha parents have given you this life.” 

It sounded similar to the talks of older folks but Van is old, he…for the love of his human… can't possibly hide it. 

The omega looked at the Alpha again and this time those blue eyes held longing. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned his parents, he doesn't know if the omega has seen their parents in his wolf form….ever. 

The longing in the omega’s eyes evoked the anger in the Alpha. He has trained many pups in all of his life and the ones who hadn't had parents were always the delicate ones. And the most difficult ones too.

Angry Van resembles his human, he either kills or forgets the use of filter in conversations which further expresses his next sentence.

“Pure souls are often cold.”

They peeked at each other above their snouts and the omega’s dull eyes fell in sheer flush, it's not possible to blush in this form. Right? Kookie raised his head towards another side, his tail picking up the motion to twirl around his knees.

The Alpha decided to correct his implementation, “That’s what my human says.” and before this Van hadn't felt so optimistic about the human unconscious inside him. 

“So shall we begin?” The question was simple and Kookie was pleased to avoid the previous discussion with all his might, “Yes.”

“But Alpha, you hadn't told me anything about how to detect the normal temperature?” Kookie asked.

“Because Normal doesn't exist for you.”

“What?”

“Do you have any memory where you felt normal temperature, you can tell me if you have felt that way.” 

It made the omega thinking back in his thoughts, he resembles all of his memories from start to end. The Queen’s touch…cold. Ajumeoni’s hands…warm. Yoongi hyung’s hug…warm. The water for the bath…warm. The food…warm. Journey in carriages… cold. Fear…cold. Anger…warm. The weapons in armouries…cold. The Sun…warm. The moon…cold. Summers…warm. Springs…warm. Autumn…warm. Winters…cold. Rain…cold. Hurt…cold. Sad…cold. Happy…warm. The Alpha’s touch…warm. 

Kookie was flabbergasted to find that there wasn't anything normal for him. It was either cold or either warm. He doesn't like cold though…uhm Rain is exceptional but he needs warmth. He and his human both need warmth. 

He shook his head to the awaiting Alpha and asked another question, “Have you felt the normal temperatures?”

The Alpha retained his stance and dipped his front paws in the water, “Everything has always seemed normal to me. Neither too cold nor too warm.” 

Kookie didn't envy the Alpha but craved it for himself. Will he be able to achieve the Alpha’s normal? Will he be able to feel it? touch it? Or…taste it?

The omega copied his mate and submerged his front paws in the water, “I think I'm ready, Alpha. You can proceed ahead.” The water felt warm around his paws and that was somehow unusual to the misty atmosphere of the forest. 

And the Alpha picked up the hidden question in the omega’s frequent sniffs, “ This lake isn't deep, its surface remains warm due to the direct contact of Sun rays.” and it doesn't apply to the entire forest because of the dense trees. 

It started with the first jump in the water as the Alpha instructed the omega as how to use paws and hind legs to push forward in the water. He wobbled and even went feral when the water went inside his nostrils as he forgot to block them, the cough was terrible but the Alpha was quick to move his snout under him and lift his weight around his neck before pushing them to the shore. 

When the omega heaved enough breaths and had shaken off the water from his body, ready to apologise… the Alpha motioned him towards the lake again, “Let's jump again.”

Their bodies threshed the water around, making a real damp mess on the shore. This time Van moved beneath him, a posture where he seemed to carry the omega on his back but not entirely, just his upper back touching the omega’s chest.

“Use your front paws now.” 

Kookie did just that, observing their speed increasing with each waddle. They took a round of the lake in the same position. Before the second round began, the Alpha moved away from the omega and instructed him to move his hind legs to swim ahead, he taught him how to turn directions and flip around in the water. 

The omega was quick to catch up with the Alpha but his speed in the water was still a problem. Nothing that some practice can't cure. Ah… he needs to check something more. 

“Howl when you reach the middle of the lake.” Van appealed to the omega. 

“Howl for what?” Kookie asked as everyone knows wolves express emotions during howling, so for what the Alpha needs his howling. 

“Express anything you are feeling. I need to check the solidity of your lungs during swimming.” Van said while swimming back to the shore, leaving the omega in the lake. 

Kookie waddled around the lake till he reached the middle of it, his mouth turned to the Alpha before his head jerked back in a loud howl. The howl was loud, rumbling along with the clouds above them and was steady like stones beneath them. 

Moreover, it was expressing the emotions of happiness. The omega howled again and swam in the lake while keeping his head above the water. He flipped in the water when the rain started to come down in sharp downpours. The water becomes blurry and before he could lose his balance he found the Alpha swimming back towards him. 

Van guided them to the shore as the omega waddled back and shook off the excess water immediately. His eyes shined in the damp atmosphere, loving the droplets that's poking his snout one after the another. He tried to catch them all with his tongue, raising up on his front paws and then rolling right on the ground with a splash. 

The Alpha followed him and shook off his body out of dampness but the rain was pouring and soaking them all once again, “We should go back to the tree house.” The choice was ethical as the Sun was setting in the West and soon the dark will cover the whole forest. 

But there was no end to the excitement of the other white wolf and he twirled back to the Alpha and requested earnestly, “Can we take one run around the forest before going back?” It's really been a while since Kookie has experienced the touch of rain. He really wanted to run in between the downpours, letting them wash all of his furs and catching them before they fell on the ground. He wanted to do everything.

It wasn't hidden from the Alpha as well so he took the responsibility and ran ahead, “We can.” 

The little squeak that the white wolf let out shouldn't be heard by anyone. 

~

They stopped under the tree house after their second round of the forest. Both the wolves were huffing for the air as their paws halted on the path. If a wolf could smile from ear to ear, Kookie would become the exact reflecting image of it. He can declare the day as the happiest day of his life even when he can't feel his paws and lungs anymore. 

When the contentment was fulfilled, the greediness started to take over. He wants to live these moments again, feels their throbbing runs right under his puffy paws once again. 

So when his lungs absorbed the needed air, the omega owned up to his thoughts right on his snout, “We will… meet again. Right?” 

He finds the Alpha already staring back at him, his majestic shoulders straining the omega to move his eyes away from him, “We will. After all, you still don't know how to dip your snout in the water without snorting.” 

“What if I learn quickly next time, I will be faster than you, Alpha.” The defence was expected in return.

“I will wait for that time.” 

The omega wanted to say that he will wait too. But not for the time when he won the race amongst them but for the time when they will meet again. Instead of that, He decided to bow a farewell to the Alpha, his heart singing a pretty song when he watched the Alpha return his bow. 

The omega spun and climbed up the stairs of the tree house in a free motion. His underbelly was feeling jumping jacks of something inside it, ears twitching and catching all the puffs Alpha was leaving in the air while having a hope inside their heart.

They will meet again. 

Kookie shook off his furs a last time before he entered the tree house, his paws were still damp as the downpour was still falling from the sky. As the time of shift came, he sat on the floor silently and closed eyes to take deep breaths. 

In the depths of his mind, he imagined the dark place once again. He called for his human and howled when he heard a reply back. He didn't know when his human came back to his senses but he is here now. His calls become urgent and he finds himself running through the darkness towards his human. They will meet at the bridge of their existence…where their souls meet. 

The light was closer as he thumped his paws eagerly, wanting to see his human again. The first crack appeared when he watched the hands of the human, the wolf howled in sharp pain when his paws stretched fully turning into the bony fingers of a human. 

The pain was crucial as his spine broke into , skin absorbing all the furs inside till it reflected the porcelain naked back of the human. The neck moved and shoulders broke off before lengthening widely, the last gut-wrenching howl of the omega turned into a painful whimper of the human soon.

Each fibre of his body was burning in pain, Jungkook whimpered on the floor where he was lying in the place of his wolf. He couldn't even move his fingers without wailing to the moon goddess, everything seemed weak to him, as fresh and fragile as a newborn pup. He couldn't move himself from his place, so he kept lying down on the cold floor. 

He needs something to wear, he was aware. But his Alpha is outside, he will protect him as he takes some moments to gather himself together. He has faith in his Alpha. He can crawl to the chest in the corner to find some clothes later.

His wolf will sleep inside him till he regains his energy back, the sudden shock of transition always puts them in a deep slumber. 

Taehyung emerged from the back of the trees after wearing the clothes that he had left behind. His eyes widened in alarm when he heard the painful howls of the wolf. That's what a long gap in shifts done to the wolves, the first following shifts will be brutal. He was aware but it's not something where he can indulge himself, the vulnerability of the situation makes it rather unapproachable and he can't cross some boundaries of respect they have between them. 

He flicked his wet hair and let the excess water fall down, at least his clothes are dry…were dry if he kept standing openly under the rain it won't take long for him to drip down with water. He walked to the tree house and climbed the stairs to stand on the deck of the tree house, the canopy above him will shade him out from the rain. 

He watched the rain washing away the herd of red leaves along with its streams, clearing out the ground and turning it into green once again. It's the beauty of nature that brings all colours together in one frame, none you can hate and none you can love for long. 

He crossed his palms behind his back and took small walks on the deck. His steps were calm, shoes ticking on the wooden floor announcing his presence loud and clear in between the shattering downpour. His eyes could see the peak of the palace from here, he should inform his brother about their absence for tonight. The small whimpers of the omega were instigating that they might have to spend their night in the tree house.

And it's alright. This house is prepared for all the primal needs of a human. They won't face any problem even if they had to spend all the nights after practices here. 

Taehyung wiped his face with his elbow to brush his vision out of the fog. The aroma of wet flowers, damp soil mixed with jittering noises of the insects was creating a comfortable atmosphere for the night.

He moved his neck sharply towards the door of the tree house when his ears caught the frequent cluttering of teeth. The whimpers were increasing with time instead of diminishing, he can at least ask if the omega is in need of something.

He saw the door wasn't locked so he knocked on the wooden wall of the house, “Luna. Are you feeling better?” 

His voice was high enough to hear the omega but he didn't get any response in return. It made Taehyung’s eyebrow match in worry, “Jungkook?”  

He can't possibly mindlink the omega as his wolf might be pushed to sleep. Taehyung heightened his focus and heard something crawling against the floor. He moved away and walked back and forth on the deck. He shouldn't bother the omega if the other didn't want his presence around. 

He can take a stroll back to the lake and come back once the rain stops. He nodded to himself and had climbed down only a few stairs when he heard the frightened shriek of the omega. The hiked up rosemaries in the surrounding were alarming enough for him to knock on the wall once again, “Are you alright? I heard your scream. May I come inside?” 

There wasn't any response once again but this time the concern won the peripheries of hesitation and Taehyung opened the door of the house deliberately and moved his body to stand in front of it. 

The vision of inside left him stunned over the door, the Empress was curled into a ball in the corner of the house. A fur blanket rolled up around his body, covering the bare skin of the omega. The entire body was trembling in the cold, the cluttering of teeth was still high in the air. He quickly diverted his eyes away and stepped inside the house. 

His body motioned to the furnace and collected some wooden husk, stripes and blocks from the trunk beside him. He used the lamp of the house and ignited the fire. The flames reached high, the husk helping to expand the fire around the blocks.  

Taehyung hung the lamp in its previous position and laid out a futon on the floor, in front of the furnace but having enough distance just so it couldn't catch fire. He fixed the smoke consumer and made the withdrawal parallel to the canopy of the house, it will restrain the rain entering the furnace.   

Once he mended the things according to his needs, he approached the omega with slow strides. He scrunched down beside the omega’s face and found his eyes shut close in pain. The damp hairs coiled around his neck and shoulders. The omega had a tight grip over the edge of the blanket, holding it closely against his chest which was covering his body from above the shoulders to his knees, leaving his ankles out to quiver in cold. 

“The fire will help with the cold. You should lay on the mattress.” 

Taehyung knew the omega can't move but if he tried to lift him his touch would hurt the omega more. He is familiar with the pain of broken bones, even a simple movement can leave crushed ligaments behind.  

But the painful whimpers of the omega were churning his stomach in a bad way. It was a pitiful sight where the omega was drenched in sweat but still his body was reacting to the cold. Taehyung couldn't help when the slope of his fingers touched the prodded cheek of the omega.

Jungkook wailed in pain with his eyes cold, he didn't want to oppose the touch but his body felt crumbling just beneath those fingers. Taehyung pulled his hand back and eyed the furnace again. 

“It's not a choice anymore.” He decided for the omega in a heartbeat, “It was either the pain of a few moments when I help you in moving or a prolonged pain when you crawl yourself towards the furnace. But now we have only one preference.” 

Taehyung moved closer to the omega and Jungkook started to sob heavily, “It's okay. I promise to not hold you for long, just count for five and you will feel the warmth.” 

The Alpha was wrong, Jungkook felt the warmth as soon as his head touched the Alpha’s chest, his body held up in the arms of his mate but the pain was too brutal, his mouth left a deep groan, everything was burning inside him. 

Taehyung was holding the omega as delicately as he could to keep his arms steady around the omega’s back and legs, “Shh… here we are. It won't be cold anymore.” 

He laid the omega on the mattress as carefully as the gardeners pick the flowers without pricking their fingers on its thorns. The omega curled on the mattress, legs trembling as the beads of sweat rolled down the skin. Taehyung moved to the trunk and pulled out the last blanket and a towel, “I apologise but.” He draped the blanket on the omega, ignoring the painful cries for the final time. He tucked the edges inwardly without touching the omega before moving to his dripping hairs. 

“Yeah, yeah. I'm touching you without your consent. I know but sweat and cold are not a good combination to survive, I am a really bad mate aren't I? Here hurting you again.” He spread the towel on the ground and gathered the wet hair of the omega, coiling it on his head to let the towel absorb the droplets.

“But I'm willing to apologise once you feel better.” Taehyung stood up and picked a towel for himself, he could see the omega tucking his head inside the blanket. His body was still trembling but he can't push further, the fire should warm up the omega soon. 

He dabbed the towel against his hair while stepping towards the door, “I'll be waiting outside.”

He closed the door behind him but didn't set the lock as he walked down the stairs. The scent was too pungent, the omega being so restless in pain. He stopped when a thought rose in his mind, he should have left the window open but then he decided against it. The breeze is getting cooler as the night climbs to the heights of midnight. 

The rain was coming down in light showers similar to the falling mist in dawn. He draped the towel around his neck and kept walking ahead to take a stroll. His stroll had a purpose to find something to eat, he had noticed some tart cherries during their run. Hmm… their consumption would be better before going to sleep. 

When he found the tree, Taehyung didn't wait before climbing on it. He sat on the thickest branch and grabbed the edges of the towel. He tied them to convert the towel in a makeshift pouch and laid it out in his lap. One by one the pouch started to become a dump of fresh red tart cherries. The Alpha ate a few, the sour and sweet taste makes his tongue smack against his teeth. 

He noticed when his vision blazed with gold and his ability to see in the dark intensified, his wolf must have gained consciousness. 

“Van?”  He called while binding the pouch when he collected enough of the cherries. 

“Master.” 

Taehyung plucked out another tart cherry from the tree and popped it inside his mouth, “So… how was your meeting? Everything went well? I was with you during your runs but decided to not disturb both of you.” 

“It was…exceptional.”

Taehyung nodded in understanding, he can describe this exceptional emotion with a deep discussion. His tongue surged out to collect the falling juice off of his lips before gulping the drops in his throat.

“A good word to explain the first meeting with your mate. How was he?”

“A shadow of the Empress in nature but he can't hide his emotions well.”

“It should be good for you. But in front of others it might not. It could be easier to predict his actions.” 

Van went into deep thought and replied after a while, “Then I must stay beside him.”

“It won't be possible during the war, Van. You must acquire the ability to strike when the enemies expect the least. It's no concern, you can teach him the tricks of deceiving the attackers by raising his defence.”

“Yes, I can definitely accomplish that. They are in pain, I can hear the whimpers from here.”

“Hmm… me too. It will get better after a few shifts, he doesn't want me to do much help.” Taehyung isn't upset as he understood the omega completely, it's just his inability to provide comfort leaving an itch around his hands.

He shared the memories of the night with his wolf and heard an exaggerated sigh of his wolf, “At least he had let you walk inside the house. We had threatened the Royal omega to death when it had happened to us where he was just trying to leave a bowl of soup.” 

This is the reason why he comprehends the situation of the omega, he had felt these things before so he knows what the sufferers seek at this moment.   

“Other things you might have noticed?” the Alpha asked, keenly changing the subject as the itch became larger, spreading around his chest and cupping his scar pouch. 

“There are many. I have a list of them.” 

“Oh? Lets listen to it, It might divert our mind from the things we can't do at this moment.” 

“I haven't separated them in a list of good and could be better. But what I have observed in the first meeting is that the omega is filled with hopeful energy. He is new to life so it's envisioned.

His speed is fast on the ground.

His hind legs are weak, use his tail to swim faster.

Sensitive to temperatures, shivers after each dip.

Respectful but talkative.

Learn fast.

Raise his paws in air when achieves the objective of the argument. 

Gets embarrassed sometimes.

The list became never ending and it reminds the Alpha how his wolf is as observant as him. His lips stretched in a light smile, a feeling of contentment that his wolf was finally able to meet his destined mate who hadn't come to backstab them or use their bond anyhow.

Their discussion stretched till the rain started to pour down once again. Taehyung grabbed his makeshift pouch and jumped on the ground. 

“Should we check on the Empress?” 

His wolf agreed as the Royal Alpha climbed the stairs, his feet slamming against the wood with each step. He hung the pouch on the sill of the window by hooking the tied knots and discarded his squelching shoes. 

His shirt has taken the place of a second skin on his chest, sticking up to his sides in an awful way. Taehyung plucked out the buttons from the voids and stripped the shirt down his shoulders when the door of the house opened. 

It caught Taehyung’s attention immediately but instead of flicking back his shirt, the Alpha grabbed the cuffs of his shirt and undressed completely. He eyed the omega who was standing on the threshold of the door, hands holding a dry towel and some dry clothes. 

The omega was looking at the Alpha with warm eyes, cheeks a bit flushed maybe due to the heat of the furnace. He was wearing a white hanfu, hair dried and combed neatly in a braid. However, the actual owner of that hanfu was someone else, it's not the traditional ones that Jungkook often wears in the palace. It's more comfortable, including cotton pants and a loose top, draped by a white robe that reaches down to his ankles secured by a knot around his waist. It resembles the traditions but the absence of a long skirt makes it a bit modern. 

“Are you feeling better now?” The Alpha asked distractingly while his eyes raked over the omega as if trying to store all the memories in the back of his mind. 

Jungkook looked down at that, the Alpha in front of him was dripping with water. Wet hairs falling across the bare shoulders, red lips moving to ask something. He remembered everything that happened before falling asleep in front of the furnace, “I'm sorry. I will become habitual in upcoming shifts.” 

He wasn't prepared when the Alpha walked up to him and stood so close, “It's our nature. We shouldn't be apologetic about it. But I would like to apologise for the disruption I caused in your healing without your consent.” 

“I appreciate your help or I wouldn't be able to recover so readily. You…” He forgets the next sentence as he raised his head and looked at the Alpha. He blinked his eyes, the lamps around the house were creating an orange hue on the Alpha’s skin. 

Beautiful.

With the next blink, Jungkook realised that he was staring at the male a bit too openly, “I found these clothes in the wooden chest. You should wear these dry ones as well.” 

He stretched his hand towards the Alpha and blushed heavily when he accepted them without diverting his gaze from the omega. 

Taehyung unhooked the pouch from the windowsill and presented it to the omega, “Some tart cherries, I found them during my stroll.” He hid the efforts of going back to their running path to collect the fruits for the omega. He doesn't have to tell because the way those black eyes twinkled with a shimmering glow was everything and a reward for him. 

“Thank you.” 

Jungkook accepted that and walked back inside the house, taking his previous seat in front of the furnace. He opened the pouch just to let out an inaudible gasp of happiness, the cherries were ruby red. The omega roamed his tongue inside his mouth and quickly picked up a piece to take a bite. The juice filled his mouth entirely, shifting the taste on his tongue with each lap and lick. 

He was deep in the fourth piece when he heard a knock against the door, he turned his neck to the door and found the Alpha still standing on the threshold. 

“May I come inside?” 

The Alpha asked and Jungkook felt a summersault of butterflies diving into his stomach before taking a fly upto his lungs. He licked his now red lips and sucked the lower lip to dry it off of any juice. The gaze was so intense that Jungkook felt the tremors in his fingers again, he murmured slowly before stuffing another cherry inside his mouth, “You may.”

He remembered how he couldn’t reply to the Alpha before. The pain was so brutal that Jungkook doesn't even want to recall everything again. 

“Would you mind if I change my clothes here?” Taehyung asked as he rinsed his hair with the towel, his back was facing the omega. 

It made Jungkook straighten his back towards the Alpha in sheer attention, his hand reacted without any instructions as he put another block of wood inside the furnace which looked loaded already, “I won't look at you, you can change.” 

It reminds Jungkook of their night of hut on the southern territories as he eats another pair of cherries. 

Taehyung dried his body and wore the top, unlike the omega the top was perfectly fit around his collarbones. He changed the bottoms and shrugged the robe over his shoulders. 

He walked out of the door and stacked his wet clothes outside the house. The Alpha dimmed the light of two lamps while diminishing the other two completely. When he walked inside the door, this time he locked the door behind him. 

He finds the omega had made a space at the end of the mattress and the Alpha took a seat on it without any blanket, however, the omega had a blanket around his lap. 

He pushed his extended palm towards the omega and Jungkook was quick to unload a handful of cherries on his palm, muttering a little, “They are really delicious.” 

“Have you informed the others about our stay in the tree house?” Jungkook asked with a serious frown on his face to which the Alpha nodded in acknowledgement.

“I informed Jimin.” He said while chewing on the fresh cherries.

“Did he say anything? Everything is fine in the palace, right?” 

The Alpha respects the omega’s concern but the things Jimin said to him doesn't have relation to any betterment of the kingdom.

From chef to a staircase soldier and now you are changing into a pup. It makes me wonder if you are retrieving back to a child's age instead of growing. 

My days haven't gotten me to vent to a horse, at least. 

What’s bad about venting to a friend? It doesn't matter if that friend is a horse or a human or a wolf!

When on earth Artax becomes your friend?

The day he hugged me to make me feel better.

You hugged Artax? Again my days haven't gotten me…

Oh stop. Then whom should you ask for a hug? 

I don't know. I don't have two fated mates who ignore my requests as plague.

Oh holy lord! My mates never ignore me. No one can ever ignore me. Did you get that? 

No.

Just agree that you are being miserable in the admiration of your mate and accept your fate.

I have heard someone crying while hugging a rug because the commander had walked on it and it was giving you his scent. I have seen someone hiding behind a pillar to witness the first kiss of your two other mates, what were you doing? Being miserable?

Taehyung, Don't.

You know better then.

“Everyone is getting prepared for the departure and those who aren't going to the war are helping others in getting prepared.” He would rather tell the omega about the increments in preparation than his brother’s nuisance. 

Jungkook chewed on a piece of cherry harshly and turned to the Alpha, “ I wanted to talk to you about something.” 

“What is it?” The Alpha asked as he threw the kernel of the cherry inside the fire.

“While practising the duels with the soldiers, I felt a shadow around me.” When he felt the attention of the Alpha entirely on his face, he gulped before continuing, “Uhm not a shadow of anyone but particularly a force which was stopping some of my instances before I could implement them.”

Taehyung turned his face towards the furnace when the realisation dawned upon him, “ It's not a force.” 

“Then? Do you know anything about it?”

His eyes met with the omega as he explained the truth, “It's a protection circle that I had created around you before our courting ceremony.” 

Jungkook stopped himself at the half bitten fruit as he stared at the Alpha. Before the courting ceremony? What? His mind recalled all the memories of the past one by one, “Why?”

“It’s a tradition for Royals, one has to ensure the security of the other in their regime.” 

With how easy words the Alpha has expressed himself as if his words hadn't shook all the beliefs of the omega. How could the Alpha go as far as creating a protection circle around him when he hadn't even known him properly? Wasn't he assuming him as hwan at that moment? 

“You had felt hate for me at that moment. Didn't I appear as Hwan to you? How come you blessed me with a protection circle?” He asked the question before he could stop himself. 

His nerves were getting wild inside his head, he wasn't able to understand the hidden meaning behind the words of the Alpha. What if he was looking for a reconciliation with his past mate and now he didn't get that. He looked down as the pressure behind his eyelids became too much.

“Hating doesn't mean that I can leave someone without protection. I had thoughts of killing you, doing anything in my possession that could send that face far…far away from me. Even if you had turned out as Hwan, I can't possibly kill a mate. But Hate is something that I do for myself, it falls under my possession entirely.”

“If you had thoughts of killing Hwan, couldn't you have restrained yourself from creating the circle around me.” Jungkook asked back immediately, his eyes were reflecting the burning flames of the furnace as he looked up.

“Wasn’t my ignorance more tortuous than killing? You have survived it, haven't you?” There was guilt in Alpha’s eyes but those honest orbs weren't lying to him.

Jungkook curled his palm around the half eaten cherry, letting it stain his fingers. He had suffered many things in the past because of his face resemblances to the Alpha’s past mate. He can accept the hate that wasn't meant for him, but he wouldn't be able to accept if the care and respect of the Alpha wouldn't mean for him too.

But he trusts the Royal Alpha’s words. If he knows the difference among them, if he knows for whom he should have created a protection circle then he won't question him anymore. 

“If my face didn't have any resemblance to your past mate, would you still have created the protection circle?” He wanted to know just this. He wanted to know if the Alpha was prepared to go beyond his failed love of the past or he was still wishing for him to come back.

“Without a hesitation.” 

The answer was in front of him, laid out in the bare truthfulness of the Alpha. He frowned when he saw a hand extended towards him, he looked at the Alpha while eyeing his hand. The Alpha pointed towards the pouch on his lap. 

Jungkook fiddled into the pouch to only declare it empty, he pouted a little while dumping the towel behind the mattress. But the Alpha’s hand was still stretched towards him and now the Alpha was looking at his closed fist. 

His heartbeats spiked up, bubbling a totally different fire than he could see inside the furnace. The fire inside him wasn't visible but the Alpha knew exactly what to say to gloss the fire even more. 

“I won't mind the partially eaten one.” 

But it's half eaten. Jungkook would have given the fruit if it wasn't his leftover but how can the Alpha ask for such a spoiled thing? But even after his expressions of disdain, the Alpha’s eyes weren't budging from his face.

He unfolded his palm and there rested the leftover piece of the fruit. He gulped his thoughts and pushed his hand towards the Alpha.

However, the Alpha had some other thoughts in his mind. He eyed the stretched out palm which was shivering above his hand and Instead of picking it out with his hand, he bent forward and let his tongue swiped the cherry right into his mouth. His lips touched the omega’s palm and Jungkook inhaled sharply. 

He stared at his palm as the Alpha pulled back and chewed out the kernel into the fire. 

“Have you got all of your answers?” The Royal Alpha asked.

Jungkook tucked his palm beneath his other hand and eyed the Alpha before turning towards the furnace, “ Hmm.”

“Should I blow out the lamp? It's past midnight.” 

Jungkook nodded his head as he stood up to wash his hands, “We should take some rest. I have court early in the morning.” He remembered before walking out of the house, he pushed his back against the wall once he hid himself away from the Alpha. He needs to breathe properly, the Alpha’s lips just touched his palm, it's nothing else. He should walk inside and sleep. 

Sleep but where? 

He has searched the entire tree house, they have only one mattress. They have to use it together, does this have become their new normal? Sharing some sleeping hours together. 

The cherry juice had left the sticky redness on his hands, he washed his hands with the pouring water from the canopy but not before caressing his spoiled plam once again.

He didn't forget to lock the door behind him as he entered the house. Jungkook gathered the fresh blanket that he had tucked back into the trunk. As soon as he sat on the mattress, Taehyung flicked his elbow in the air and the space got covered with sheer darkness. 

Jungkook gasped in amazement, “How did you do that?” 

The glow of the furnace was enough for them to see each other in orange shine. Jungkook took the space in front of the furnace, he can't take the risk of being brave against a cold night. 

He eyed the Alpha taking off his robe before laying down on the mattress beside him. A sigh followed his lips before he replied to the omega, “Just some practices of spells with Ella.” 

“Oh.”

Jungkook covered himself with the blanket, leaving a big space for the Alpha if he wanted to use it. He turned to the fire, face glowing with upright flames of the furnace. 

Taehyung laid behind him, hands crossing beneath his head and staring at the cooped up space of the ceiling. He could use the time to balance the strategy from the third pole of the western land but then the omega decided to change his lying position and turned around to face him. And all of his strategies slipped past his fingers when his eyes captured the face of the omega. 

His eyes were closed, lips shut in a pinched line. He was pretending to be asleep but it didn't stop the Alpha from staring at the Empress shamelessly.

“We should sleep.” The omega mumbled as he felt the piercing gaze of the Alpha behind his eyelids. 

Taehyung hummed as took the turn on the mattress and faced the omega as well. One elbow beneath his head as he gazed down at the sleeping Empress closely. 

Soon the closed off orbs fluttered open and stared back at the Alpha, “You are staring.” 

“I want to appreciate some things before they get hidden from me.” 

Jungkook pressed his palm against the edge of the blanket before curling it down on his chest, “Why would I hide from you? I had explained the motive behind my absence. I will be here only. Are you going somewhere?”

The voices weren't hushed as the rain was still pouring outside the house but they had taken a path of rich octave, “ No. But wars often demand all of my attention so I wouldn't be able to look at you then.” 

Jungkook looked down at the distance between their laying bodies, his body was warm but he could feel the cold jitters in his fingers, “Are these conversations could be remembered later? Or will they end with the night?”

When he looked up from the space between them, the Alpha watched him closely, “ Do you want to remember them?”

Why wouldn't he? These are the most cherished moments of his life. 

“I do.” He voiced his choice. 

He watched as the Alpha’s eyes roamed around his face as if the gaze was touching him unashamedly, “Then you should.”

Jungkook took his hand out of the blanket and placed it in between them, his fingers were picking the small shards of the mattress, “Won't you ask why I want to remember them?”

Taehyung couldn't only see the tremors in omega’s fingers, he could even feel his hesitation behind, “Why?”

His hand fell limp as he looked at the Alpha, “These conversations validates my emotions, turns them into a memory that I want to cherish, possess and protect from everything.” 

Those eyes were reflecting such raw emotions that it left the Alpha’s throat too dry to inhale, he parted his lips to breathe properly, “I want to have these conversations again.” 

He breathed out the words, not expecting the doe eyes to enlarge in devotion, “When you bless me with your honesty, I want to reciprocate your thoughts with my truth. Would you like to have these conversations again?”

Jungkook blinked his eyes as he brought his other hand and tucked the fisted palm beneath his chin as he gazed at his Alpha, “ I seek your attention everywhere, probably it would satiate the hunger of my eyes.” 

Behind the omega, the flames of the fire were delivering the divine sheen around them. 

“You are not alone in this starvation. Someone has waited centuries for these talks.” 

Jungkook felt the beats of his heart falling down to a rate where it would just stop beating anymore. He looked down, hiding his eyes before they could uncover the concealed truth behind them.

Taehyung hooked his chin up, holding his jaw with his fingers, the prodding cheeks of the omega puckering out his lips. The distance between their bodies reduced to nothing when the Alpha brought their faces together. 

“Your eyes are emitting fear, what are you afraid of?” the Alpha asked.

Jungkook was laying in front of him in a plain daze, hands curling on the Alpha’s chest. His lips were moving but there was no sound, cheeks moving beneath the hold of Alpha’s fingers. 

“You are too close. I can't breathe.” 

“Should I pull away? You have stopped shivering.” 

Huh?

Right.

He has stopped shivering, his spread palms on the Alpha’s torso showed no proof of any cold jitters. So it was only a beautiful distraction? 

But then the Alpha’s hand slid down his jaw and curled around his nape. Jungkook just followed the pressure on his neck and soon his face rested in the crook of his mate’s neck. 

“Don’t pull away.” He wished in a low murmur, wasn't sure if the Alpha heard it or not.

“Have I crossed a line?” Taehyung asked slowly. He needs to be sure, he doesn't want to draw the attention of the omega unwillingly.

Jungkook sneaked his right hand around the Alpha’s waist and hugged him tightly, making their shoulders brush together, “ I haven't drawn any line for you. I don't want any lines to stop my mate from giving me affection.” 

“Was that affection?” 

“Was that not?” Jungkook’s voice was inaudible but his fear spoke for him. His bony fingers clutched the top of Alpha in a crushing fist. But before his shivers could return, he felt a strong arm coiling around his waist. 

His breath hitched when the Alpha pulled his waist flushed against his own. Jungkook felt the blood rushing up to his face when he heard the words of the Alpha, “It was a concern and concern arises where the affection resides.” 

Jungkook lost himself in the arms of the Alpha, thoughts leaving his mind a little too numb.

Taehyung could feel his heart expanding around the shackles of his fears. Too overwhelmed by the shallow breaths on the omega’s scent glands. He can still protect himself, he can still disown the proof of the fate but with another clutch of those bony fingers, the shackles around his heart are swept away.

He had been bound to uncertainty before but now he is bound to his fate. Has fate blessed him with a boon of togetherness? If yes, then he wants to share his boon with the Empress as well.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.

I'm facing a problem with network in my hometown so if you found some mistakes, kindly forgive me.

Hope you have enjoyed the chapter.

Good night, lovely readers.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.